The Dallas Mavericks Secure the First Pick of the 2025 NBA Draft
The Dallas Mavericks won the victory in the 2025 NBA draft lottery, securing the first draft pick to be held on June 25 and 26 in Brooklyn. This unexpected turn of fate gives them the opportunity to choose the player considered the best prospect of the 2025 class: Cooper Flagg, from Duke University.
The lottery also favored the San Antonio Spurs, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Charlotte Hornets, who obtained the number 2, 3, and 4 picks, respectively. The Spurs, with only a 6.3% chance of moving up from the 8th to the 2nd position, and the 76ers, with a 10.6% chance of moving from the 5th to the 3rd position, starred in promotions that surprised everyone, especially after Dallas’ victory.
Cooper Flagg, along with other promising players such as Dylan Harper, Derik Queen, and Walter Clayton Jr., is in Chicago this week participating in the NBA draft combine and the G League Elite Camp.
Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have shared their first post-lottery mock draft, following an exhaustive evaluation of the 2025 class and considering information from scouts and team office personnel. The New York Knicks’ second-round pick was revoked by the NBA following an investigation into the signing of Jalen Brunson in free agency in the summer of 2022.
Analysis of the First Draft Picks
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (Forward/Power Forward, Duke). Flagg, with a true shooting percentage of 60.0% during his rookie season, is shaping up to be the most promising player in the draft. His consistency and ability to lead the Duke team set him apart among the best college players of the “one-and-done” era.
Some NBA scouts see Flagg as a franchise player, while others consider him an elite secondary star. His rapid improvement, his versatile impact on both ends of the court, and his competitive approach at 18 make him a special prospect.
Woo
For the Mavericks, winning the lottery with only a 1.8% chance is an unlikely victory. With Flagg, the team has an easy decision and will be able to maximize its potential alongside Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper (Guard, Rutgers). Harper has demonstrated a high level of skill, shot creation, and scoring ability. His ability to get where he wants on the court and his excellent passing ability make him valuable.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: Airious “Ace” Bailey (Guard/Forward, Rutgers). Bailey has shown flashes of scoring potential. Lottery teams are eager to get to know him in the predraft process, including interviews, to understand how far he is from contributing positively on an NBA court.
4. Charlotte Hornets: VJ Edgecombe (Guard, Baylor). Edgecombe, Big 12 Player of the Year, had a successful season showcasing his physique, intensity, and rapid improvement as a ball handler, finisher, and perimeter shooter.
Cooper Flagg reacts after the Mavericks’ victory in the NBA draft lottery
